Image generating apparatus, image generating method, and computer program

ABSTRACT

A picture generating apparatus ( 1 ) is provided with: a drawing application processor ( 11 ) for instructing a drawing device ( 13 ) to generate a 3D image; and a graphics library ( 12 ). The drawing application processor is provided with a drawing object information generation device for generating drawing object information to generate an image; and a coordinate transformation information generation device for generating coordinate transformation information. The drawing device generates the 3D image by applying the coordinate transformation information to the drawing object information. Consequently, this ensures the high-speed generation of the image and the ability of replacement of the drawing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus for andan image generating method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) imageon the basis of three-dimensional coordinate information, which isapplied to a navigation system or the like, and a computer program toperform the image generating method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the research development of an electronic control forcontrolling a drive of a car and the spread of a navigation system forsupporting a drive are remarkable. In general, the navigation system isbasically designed so as to have various databases and to display mapinformation, current position information, various guidance information,etc. on a display unit. Moreover, such a navigation system is typicallydesigned so as to search for a drive route in accordance with an inputcondition. It is further designed so as to display the searched driveroute and a current position based on a GPS (Global Positioning System)measurement or a self-contained measurement on a map and carry outguidance (navigation) to a destination.

Moreover, in some types of navigation systems, a view on a front sidefrom a currently driving point in addition to the drive route isdisplayed on a display unit. In addition, an indication of a drivinglane, a direction to be curved at a crossing, a distance to a crossing,a distance to a destination, an arrival expectation time and the likeare displayed. In such navigation systems, the forward view is displayedas a 3D image in perspective, which is a technique for drawing a 3Dimage on a plane on the basis of view point of a viewer.

Furthermore, some types of navigation systems is designated to changethe forward view displayed as a 3D image according to an advance of acar in order to reproduce the change of the actual view that a driverwatches in the car through the front window of the car while driving.

By the way, in order to display a 3D image that continuously changes, itis required to calculate enormous map data containing three-dimensionalcoordinate information at a high speed, input the data obtained bycalculating to a drawing device one after another, and generate many 3Dimages in a shot time. In response to such a requirement, the techniquethat a single sequence of data is generated by mixing drawing objectinformation indicating objects to be drawn such as a road, a buildingand so on and the coordinate transformation information indicating aview point, a field of view, a light source and so on, and a 3D image isgenerated at a time by using the single sequence of data. For example,the display list of OpenGL developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. has such aconstruction (Incidentally, OpenGL is a trademark of Silicon GraphicsInc.). However, the coordinate transformation information depends upon atype of drawing device. Because of this, if the coordinatetransformation information is mixed with the drawing object informationand the particular sequence of data is generated, the sequence of datacannot be used by a type of drawing device which cannot execute thissequence. Therefore, it is difficult to replace the drawing device.Moreover, in this case, there is a technique that the CPU carries outthe so-called emulation on the sequence of data and converts it intoexecutable sequence of data. However, since the emulation or conversiontakes a long time, it is difficult to increase the speed of the imagegenerating process.

In particular, the new type of drawing device is successively developed.If the current drawing device is replaced with the new type of drawingdevice, it is required to replace a device for generating the sequenceof data for generating the 3D image. If the device for generating thesequence of data is an integrated device containing a function ofgenerating the drawing object information, a function of generating thecoordinate transformation information and a function of mixing these twokinds of information, it is required to replace all the functions, sothat the replacement becomes on a large scale. Finally, thereconstruction of the whole of the apparatus is required. This preventsthe apparatus from being efficiently or effectively generated byreplacing only the drawing device. That is, the coordinatetransformation that is the important element in the image generatingprocess is operated as a state machine having a status therein. Hence,the function of the drawing device in this coordinate transformation cannot cope with it only by replacing a single function, such as a libraryabsorbing a typical device dependence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an imagegenerating apparatus and an image generating method that can improve thespeed of generating a image and that can easily replace a drawingdevice, and to provide a computer program to perform the imagegenerating method.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an imagegenerating apparatus for drawing a three-dimensional image, providedwith: a drawing object information generating device for generatingdrawing object information, which is information for drawing objects asthe three-dimensional image, in a single coordinate system; a coordinatetransformation information generating device for generating coordinatetransformation information, which is information for defining at leastone of a view point and a field of view concerning the three-dimensionalimage; a drawing object information storing device for storing thedrawing object information; a coordinate transformation informationstoring device for storing the coordinate transformation information, adrawing device for generate the three-dimensional image by using thestored drawing object information and the stored coordinatetransformation information.

According to the image generating apparatus of the present invention,the information used to generate a three-dimensional image, that is, thecoordinate transformation information and the drawing object informationare separately generated by the independent devices, that is thecoordinate transformation information generating device and the drawingobject information generating device. Also, these two kinds ofinformation are separately stored and managed by the independentdevices, that is, the coordinate transformation information storingdevice and the drawing object information storing device. Then, thedrawing device generates the three-dimensional image on the basis of thestored coordinate transformation information and the stored drawingobject information.

Thus, the coordinate transformation information and the drawing objectinformation are separately and independently prepared and the process ofgenerating the three-dimensional image on the basis of these informationis carried out all at once. Consequently, it is possible to improve aprocessing speed (i.e. a drawing speed) of generating thethree-dimensional image. Furthermore, by separating the coordinatetransformation information from the drawing object information, itbecomes easy to replace the drawing device. Namely, by separating thecoordinate transformation information and the drawing objectinformation, it is possible to avoid the limitation of the conventionaldata structure that the substitution of a single function, such as alibrary absorbing a general device dependence, cannot handle thefunction of the drawing device in this coordinate transformation becausethe coordinate transformation, which is an important element fordrawing, operates as a state machine having a condition inside. Forexample, by separating the coordinate transformation information fromthe drawing object information, the coordinate transformationinformation to be applied to a single display list can be restricted toone unit. That is, by separating the coordinate transformationinformation from the drawing object information, it is possible toconfigure such that the unit of the coordinate transformationinformation and the unit of the drawing object information (i.e. asingle display list) correspond each other one to one, without thelimitation of the configuration of the drawing device. Therefore, it ispossible to remove the dependency on the drawing device.

Consequently, it is possible to improve the ability of replacement ofthe drawing device.

Incidentally, the drawing object information generating device may beconstructed so as to generate the drawing object information in such away that the drawing object information is divided into predeterminedinformation units. For example, the predetermined information unit isdefined on the basis of the unit of a display list. If the drawingobject information is generated for each unit of the display list, theunit of the drawing object information matches the unit of the processof generating a three-dimensional image by applying the coordinatetransformation information to the drawing object information in thedrawing device. In addition, within the same predetermined informationunit of the same display list or the like, the coordinate system isunified; however, it is not necessary to unify the coordinate systembetween the different predetermined information units.

In one aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the drawing object information storing device stores aplurality of units of the drawing object information generated by thedrawing object information generating device, the coordinatetransformation information storing device stores a plurality of units ofthe coordinate transformation information generated by the coordinatetransformation information generating device, and the drawing devicegenerates the three-dimensional image with an arbitrary combination ofone or more than one of the plurality of units of the drawing objectinformation and one or more than one of the plurality of units of thecoordinate transformation information.

By constituting in this manner, it is possible to generate variousthree-dimensional images quickly according to use's requirements.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the drawing object information generating device comprises alist generating device for generating a list of the drawing objectinformation.

According to this aspect, the drawing device generates thethree-dimensional image by using the list of the drawing objectinformation together with the coordinate transformation information. Ifthe list is generated so as to match the so-called display list, itbecomes easy to generate the three-dimensional image with the drawingdevice.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the image generating apparatus includes a drawing applicationprocessor and a graphics library. The graphics library is provided with:the drawing object information storing device; the coordinatetransformation information storing device; and a controlling device forcontrolling the drawing device. The drawing application processor isprovided with: the drawing object information generating device; thecoordinate transformation information generating device; and aninstructing device for instructing the controlling device to execute thegeneration of the three-dimensional image.

According to this aspect, both of the generating of the drawing objectinformation and the generating of the coordinate transformationinformation are carried out in the drawing application processor(However, these two generating processes are separated in the drawingapplication processor.). Therefore, the graphics library and the drawingdevice can be separated from the drawing application processor.Consequently, it is possible to improve the ability of replacement.Moreover, since the single processor has the functions of generating thedrawing object information and the coordinate transformation informationand controls the graphics library and the drawing device, it becomeseasy to generate the complex three-dimensional image. For example, thethree-dimensional images drawn by changing the coordinate with respectto one drawing object can be easily generated by changing the coordinatetransformation information while the drawing object information isfixed.

In another aspect on the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the drawing device is further provided with: a mapinformation supplying device for supplying map information, whichcontains a source of the drawing object information, to the drawingobject information generating device.

According to this aspect, a source of the drawing object informationcontained in the map information is supplied to the drawing objectinformation generating device. Then, the drawing object informationgenerating device generates the drawing object information on the basisof the source of the drawing object information contained in the mapinformation. Moreover, for example, if the image generating apparatus isapplied to a navigation system, position information of a movable bodyobtained from a GPS measurement apparatus or the like or routeinformation inputted by the operator is used for the coordinatetransformation. In this case, the coordinate transformation is carriedout on the drawing object information by using the position informationor route information. Thus, the three-dimensional image on the basis ofmap information can be generated. In addition, guidance informationwithout the coordinate transformation can be displayed together with thethree-dimensional image in the overlapping manner. By displaying of theimages in an overlapping manner, an operator can easily understand thecurrent position, a route to a destination or the like.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the image generating apparatus comprises a first portion anda second portion which are detachable each other, the drawingapplication device is put on the first portion, and the graphics libraryand the drawing device are put on the second portion.

According to this aspect, the graphics library and the drawing devicecan be separated from the drawing application processor. Therefore,replacement of the drawing device and graphics library becomes easy.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the drawing device generates the three-dimensional image withperspective.

According to this aspect, such a view that the operator can see from adriver's seat is displayed as the three-dimensional image inperspective, which allows the operator to easily recognize the image bycorresponding it to the actual view.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the coordinate transformation information includesinformation for defining a light source.

According to this aspect, the drawing object information is transformedas the coordinate transformation information on the basis of lightsource information in addition to view point information and view fieldinformation, and it becomes possible to display the three-dimensionalimage more real. Moreover, even if the drawing device is replaced, thecoordinate transformation information such as the view pointinformation, the view field information and the light source informationcan be used as it is. Therefore, it is possible to replace the drawingdevice while keeping the quality of a three-dimensional image.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the information for defining the view point is set on thebasis of a view point of a movable body operator.

According to this aspect, such a view that can be seen with the viewpoint of the operator is displayed as the three-dimensional image, whichallows the operator to easily recognize it as the image in threedimensions corresponding to the actual view. The view point may be setautomatically or manually.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the information for defining the field of view is set on thebasis of a field of view of a movable body operator.

According to this aspect, such a view in the field of view of theoperator is displayed as the three-dimensional image. The field of viewmay be set automatically or manually.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the view point on the three-dimensional image is set so as tobe located at a central portion of a display area of a display device.

According to this aspect, if the image generating apparatus is connectedto a display device in order to display the generated three-dimensionalimage, the view point on the three-dimensional image is set so as to belocated at the central portion of the display area of the displaydevice. The drawing object is displayed after the coordinatetransformation so as to set the view point of the operator at thecentral portion of the display area.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the drawing device generates a plurality of partial frameimages on the basis of the stored drawing object information, andsuperimposes the plurality of partial frame images.

According to this aspect, the drawing device generates thethree-dimensional image of one frame by superimposing the plurality ofpartial frame images generated on the basis of the plurality of piecesof the drawing object information. Therefore, a more realthree-dimensional image can be generated by the drawing device quickly.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the image generating apparatus is further provided with aframe buffer for storing the plurality of partial frame images.

According to this aspect, since the plurality of partial frame imagesare stored in the frame buffer, the three-dimensional image of one framecan be generated by simply superimposing the plurality of partial frameimage stored in the frame buffer. Therefore, it is possible to generatethe three-dimensional image easily. In addition, the frame buffer may beinstalled in a buffer memory of the drawing device.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the coordinate transformation information generating devicegenerates a plurality of units of the coordinate transformationinformation, in which at least one of the view point and the field ofview is different from each other, with respect to one unit of thedrawing object information, and the image processing device generatesthe three-dimensional image which changes with time by applying theplurality of units of the coordinate transformation information to theone unit of the drawing object information.

According to this aspect, when generating the three-dimensional imagewhich changes as time elapses, the coordinate transformation informationis changed in the state that the drawing object information is fixed.Therefore, the processing load for drawing can be reduced and thethree-dimensional images, which sequentially change, can be quicklygenerated. For example, it is possible to generate the three-dimensionalimage that sequentially changes according to a traveling of a movablebody by sequentially changing the view point of the coordinatetransformation information with respect to the same drawing objectinformation. Also, if information defining a light source is included inthe coordinate transformation information, it is possible to generatethe three-dimensional image that sequentially changes as time elapses bysequentially changing the light source of the coordinate transformationinformation.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, a process of generating the drawing object information in thedrawing object information generating device, a process of generatingthe coordinate transformation information in the coordinatetransformation information generating device, a process of storing thedrawing object information in the drawing object information storingdevice and a process of storing the coordinate transformationinformation in the coordinate transformation information storing deviceare carried out with multitasking.

According to this aspect, the drawing object information and thecoordinate transformation information are generated and stored bymultitasking, so that it becomes possible to generate thethree-dimensional image more quickly as a whole.

In another aspect of the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention, the image generating apparatus is further provided with adisplay device for displaying the images generated by the drawingdevice.

According to this aspect, it is possible to realize various electronicequipment such as a navigation system, such as an on-vehicle navigationsystem capable of displaying the multiple-layer 3D image or the like; agame apparatus, such as an arcade game, a television game, or the like;a computer, such as a personal computer capable of displaying themultiple-layer 3D image or the like; and so on.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a programstorage device readable by a computer for tangibly embodying a programof instructions executable by the computer to perform an imagegenerating method of drawing a three-dimensional image. The imagegenerating method is provided with: a drawing object informationgenerating process of generating drawing object information, which isinformation for drawing objects as the three-dimensional image, in asingle coordinate system; a coordinate transformation informationgenerating process of generating coordinate transformation information,which is information for defining at least one of a view point and afield of view concerning the three-dimensional image; a drawing objectinformation storing process of storing the drawing object information; acoordinate transformation information storing process of storing thecoordinate transformation information; and a drawing process forgenerating the three-dimensional image by using the stored drawingobject information and the stored coordinate transformation information.

According to the program storage device, the integrated control of theabove described image generating apparatus of the present invention canbe relatively easily realized as a computer reads and executes theprogram of instructions from the program storage device such as a CD-ROM(Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (DVD Read Only Memory), ahard disc or the like, or as it executes the program of instructionsafter downloading the program through communication device.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a computerdata signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series ofinstructions which cause a computer to perform an image generatingmethod of drawing a three-dimensional image. The image generating methodis provided with: a drawing object information generating process ofgenerating drawing object information, which is information for drawingobjects as the three-dimensional image, in a single coordinate system; acoordinate transformation information generating process of generatingcoordinate transformation information, which is information for definingat least one of a view point and a field of view concerning thethree-dimensional image; a drawing object information storing process ofstoring the drawing object information; a coordinate transformationinformation storing process of storing the coordinate transformationinformation; and a drawing process for generating the three-dimensionalimage by using the stored drawing object information and the storedcoordinate transformation information.

According to the computer data signal embodied in the carrier wave ofthe present invention, as the computer downloads the program in thecomputer data signal through a computer network or the like, andexecutes this program, it is possible to realize the integrated controlof the above described image generating apparatus of the presentinvention.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by an imagegenerating method of drawing a three-dimensional image, provided with: adrawing object information generating process of generating drawingobject information, which is information for drawing objects as thethree-dimensional image, in a single coordinate system; a coordinatetransformation information generating process of generating coordinatetransformation information, which is information for defining at leastone of a view point and a field of view concerning the three-dimensionalimage; a drawing object information storing process of storing thedrawing object information; a coordinate transformation informationstoring process of storing the coordinate transformation information;and a drawing process for generating the three-dimensional image byusing the stored drawing object information and the stored coordinatetransformation information.

According to this aspect, the drawing object information and thecoordinate transformation information concerning the objects to be drawnas the three-dimensional image are separately generated. Furthermore,the drawing object information and the coordinate transformationinformation are separately stored and managed. Then, thethree-dimensional image is generated by using the drawing objectinformation and the coordinate transformation information. Thus, thedrawing object information and the coordinate transformation informationare separately and independently prepared and the process of generatingthe three-dimensional image on the basis of these information is carriedout all at once. Consequently, it is possible to improve a processingspeed (i.e. a drawing speed) of generating of the images. Furthermore,by separating the coordinate transformation information from the drawingobject information, it becomes easy to replace the drawing device.

In one aspect of the image generating method of the present invention,the drawing object information generating process comprises a listgenerating process of generating a list of the drawing objectinformation.

According to this aspect, in the drawing process, the three-dimensionalimage is generated by using the list of the drawing object informationtogether with the coordinate transformation information. If the list isgenerated so as to match the so-called display list, it becomes easy togenerate the three-dimensional image with the drawing device.

The nature, utility, and further features of this invention will be moreclearly apparent from the following detailed description with referenceto preferred embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings briefly described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an imagegenerating apparatus, which is a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an inner configuration of a graphicslibrary of an image generating apparatus and the ability of replacementof a drawing application;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a management of a scene object of an imagegenerating apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of a graphicslibrary;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of a drawing deviceof an image generating apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing an operation of an image generatingapparatus;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a drawing; and

FIG. 8 is a view showing a configuration of a navigation system appliedto an image generating apparatus of the present invention as a secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiments according to an image generating apparatus andan image generating method and a computer program in the presentinvention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. By theway, the respective embodiments described below are established as theapparatus in which the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention is used as a navigation system for a car. However, they arenot limited to it. The present invention can be preferably applied to animage generation using a personal computer, an image generation for atelevision game and the like.

(First Embodiment)

An image generating apparatus in the first embodiment will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8. Here, FIG. 1 is a blockdiagram showing a basic configuration of an image generating apparatus,which is a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a viewillustrating an inner configuration of a graphics library constitutingthe image generating apparatus and the ability of replacement, FIG. 3 isa view illustrating a management of a scene object with regard to animage generating process, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of anoperation of a graphics library constituting the image generatingapparatus, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of adrawing device constituting the image generating apparatus, FIG. 6 is asequence chart showing an operation of the image generating apparatus inthis embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a drawing.

At first, the basic configuration of the image generating apparatus inthis embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, the image generating apparatus 1 is provided with a drawingapplication processor 11, a graphics library 12 and a drawing device 13.Coordinate transformation input information 14 and drawing object inputinformation 15 are inputted to the drawing application processor 11. Thecoordinate transformation input information 14 is used as sources of thecoordinate transformation information. The coordinate transformationinformation includes information for defining a view point, a field ofview, a lightsource and the like. The drawing object input information15 is used as sources of the drawing object information. The drawingobject information includes information of a road, a building, a map andthe like. The graphics library 12 and the drawing device 13 constitute asystem integrally with each other, and arbitrarily replaced for thedrawing application processor 11, as described below. This contributesimprovement of the ability of replacement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drawing application processor 11 has acoordinate transformation parameter generating routine 111 and a displaylist generating routine 112. The coordinate transformation parametergenerating routine 111 generates the coordinate transformationinformation (a coordinate transformation parameters) containing theinformation of a view point, a field of view, a light source and thelike on the basis of the coordinate transformation input information 14.The coordinate transformation information (the coordinate transformationparameters) is managed as a scene object by the graphics library 12.Moreover, an identifier is set on the scene object. The operations forsetting the coordinate transformation parameters for the scene objectand applying the set coordinate transformation parameters to the drawingprocess are executed by identifying the identifier.

The display list generating routine 112 generates the drawing objectinformation containing the information of a road, a building, a map andthe like on the basis of the drawing object input information 15. Then,the display list generating routine 112 generates a display list byusing the drawing object information. Then, the display list generatingroutine 112 supplies the display list to the graphics library 12. Thedrawing object information does not include the coordinatetransformation information or the coordinate transformation parameters.Also, the display list does not include the coordinate transformationinformation or the coordinate transformation parameters. The coordinatetransformation information (the coordinate transformation parameters) isseparately generated and set as the scene object. In this way, thedrawing object information (the display list) and the coordinatetransformation information (the coordinate transformation parameters)are separately and independently generated and managed, and the 3D imageis generated by applying the coordinate transformation information tothe drawing object information at the time of the execution of the imagegenerating process. This attains the replacement of the system asmentioned above and the higher speed of the drawing speed.

Next, the graphics library 12 has a scene object setting device 121, adisplay list arranging device 122 and a display list execution device123.

The scene object setting device 121 stores the coordinate transformationinformation (the coordinate transformation parameters) generated by thecoordinate transformation parameter generating routine 111 of thedrawing application processor 11, and manages it. The coordinatetransformation information (the coordinate transformation parameters) isstored in the scene object corresponding to the identifier set by thedrawing application processor 11. The display list arranging device 122arranges or reconstructs the display list generated by the display listgenerating routine 112 of the drawing application processor 11. In thedisplay list arranging device 122, the display list is arranged orreconstructed so as to be suitable for the drawing device 13. Thus, thedrawing device 13 can directly execute the image generating process at atime by using the arranged or reconstructed display list. Therefore, thespeed of the image generating process can be increased.

The display list execution device 123 controls the drawing device 13.When generating the 3D image, the display list execution device 123instructs the scene object setting device 121 and the display listarranging device 122 to send the coordinate transformation informationand the arrange or reconstructed display list to the drawing device 13,and further instructs the drawing device 13 to execute the imagegenerating process.

In this graphics library 12, the coordinate transformation information(the coordinate transformation parameters) and the drawing objectinformation (display list) are separated and stored. Then, at the timeof the image generating process, the drawing device 13 applies thecoordinate transformation information to the drawing object information,and carries out the coordinate transformation by adding the conditionsof the view point, the field of view, the light source and the like,which are set as the scene object, and generates the 3D images. Thedrawing object information included in a single display list is formedon a single coordinate system that does not depend on the view point andthe field of view.

The image generated by the drawing device 13 is held in a buffer memory16 and supplied to the display unit 17. Thus, the image is displayed bythe display unit 17.

Here, in the image generating apparatus 1, the coordinate transformationinformation and the drawing object information are separately generated,separately stored and separately managed. This makes it possible toconstruct the graphics library 12 and the drawing device 13 as thesystem (1) independent of the drawing application processor 11.Therefore, the system (1) can be replaced with another system (N)including another graphics library and another drawing device.Consequently, the selection branch spreads in the fields of the design,the generation, the manufacture and the maintenance of the apparatus andthe like. Hence, the serviceableness is vast.

Moreover, many scene objects whose identifiers are different from eachother may be stored, or many display lists whose drawing objects aredifferent from each other may be stored. By carrying out the imagegenerating process through a mobile combination of many scene objectsand display lists, it is possible to provide the effect that variouspictures having different coordinate systems can be generated at a highspeed. For example, the 3D image which is continuously changed can berelatively easily generated by changing only the coordinatetransformation information (namely, for example, changing only the viewpoint and the field of view or only the light source) while fixing thedisplay list in relation to the object of the drawing target.

In addition, although FIG. 2 shows one buffer memory 16 for theexplanatory convenience, a plurality of buffer memories for transientlystoring a plurality of partial frame images to be generated on the basisof a plurality of drawing object information which are generated andstored for each object, respectively, may be provided. It is alsopossible to output as a 3D image of one frame by overlapping theplurality of partial frame images through a drawing device 13. Moreover,it is possible to carry out the overlapping process through the drawingdevice 13 while using a Z-buffer for removing the rear portions of theoverlapped images.

In particular, the configuration in which the many scene objects and themany display lists can be simultaneously treated by the drawingapplication processor 11 and the graphics library 12 is advantageous inmaking the speed of the drawing process higher through a multi-taskfaster.

The procedure for generating the 3D image will be described below withreference to FIG. 3. At first, the drawing application processor 11generates a display list (Procedure (1)). The generated display list isstored as an object display list (1) of the graphics library 12. Next,the drawing application processor 11 generates coordinate transformationinformation (coordinate transformation parameters) (Procedure (2)). Thecoordinate transformation information (the coordinate transformationparameters) is stored in a scene object (1). At this time, an identifieris set on the scene object (1). Next, the drawing application processor11 instructs the graphics library 12 to execute the image generatingprocess (Procedure (3)). In response to this, the graphics library 12accesses the display list (1) and the scene object (1), sends thedrawing object information of the display list (1) and the coordinatetransformation information of the scene object (1) to the drawing device13, and instructs the drawing device 13 to execute the image generatingprocess. In response to this, the drawing device 13 executes the imagegenerating process, thereby generating the 3D image.

The drawing device 13 has the coordinate transformation function. On thebasis of the coordinate transformation parameters indicated by theidentifier, for example, on the basis of a view point and a field ofview of a driver, a light source, and the like if a car is driving, adrawing object information, for example, a current view during thedriving that is watched by the driver is generated and displayed in the3D image. At this time, many object display lists or scene objects canbe generated and stored in advance, and any one of or some display listsand any one of or some scene objects can be combined.

The flow of the operation of the graphics library 12 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 4.

At first, from a waiting state for an operation input from the drawingapplication processor 11 (Step S101), if there is the operation input, atype of the operation is checked (Step S102). The types of the operationin the graphics library 12 are the arranging or reconstructing of thedisplay list, the setting of the scene object and the execution of thedisplay list.

If the arranging or reconstructing of the display list is indicated, thedisplay list received from the drawing application processor 11 isarranged or reconstructed so as to be suitable for the drawing device 13(Step S103). After the arranging or reconstructing of the display list,the operational flow returns back to the step S101, and waits for a nextoperation input.

As the checked result at the step S102, if the operation input is thesetting of the scene object, the coordinate transformation informationreceived from the drawing application processor 11 is set to the sceneobject indicated by the identifier (Step S104). When the setting of thescene object is completed, the operational flow again returns back tothe step S101 and waits for a next operation input.

As the checked result at the step S102, if the operation input is theexecution of the display list, the scene object indicated by theidentifier is set for the drawing device 13 (Step S105). Then, thegraphics library 12 instructs the drawing device 13 to execute thedisplay list (i.e. to execute the image generating process) (Step S106).

After that, the operational flow returns back to the step S101 and waitsfor a next operation input. The drawing device 13 executes the displaylists at a time, and generates the image. The executing procedure isbased on the executing procedures described with reference to FIG. 3.

The flow of the operation of the drawing device 13 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 5.

At first, from a waiting state for an operation input from the graphicslibrary 12 (Step S201), if there is the operation input, a type of theoperation is checked (Step S202). As the types of the operation, thereare the setting of the scene object and the execution of the displaylist.

If the setting of the scene object is indicated, the drawing device 13sets the coordinate transformation parameters corresponding to the sceneobject indicated by the identifier (Step S203). After the completion ofthe setting of the coordinate transformation parameters, the operationalflow again returns back to the step S201 and waits for a next operationinput.

As the checked result at the step S202, if the operation input is theexecution of the display list, the image generating process is executedon the basis of the coordinate transformation parameters and the displaylist. The generated image is outputted from the drawing device 13.

The operation of the image generating apparatus will be described belowalong the temporal flow with reference to a sequence chart of FIG. 6.This sequence chart temporally shows the mutual relation between thedrawing application processor 11, the graphics library 12, the drawingdevice 13 and the display unit 17. The lateral line represents themutual relation, and the longitudinal line represents the temporalelapse from the top to the bottom.

At first, the drawing application processor 11 generates a display list,and sends it to the graphics library 12 (Step S301). The graphicslibrary 12 arranges or reconstructs the display list and fits it to thedrawing device 13. Then, the graphics library 12 stores and manages thearranged or reconstructed display list (Step S302).

Next, the drawing application processor 11 generates coordinatetransformation parameters and sets an identifier. Then, the drawingapplication processor 11 instructs the graphics library 12 to set thecoordinate transformation parameters to a scene object corresponding tothe identifier (Step S303). In response to this instruction, thegraphics library 12 sets the coordinate transformation parameters. Then,the graphics library 12 stores and manages it (Step S304).

The display list and the scene object may be generated whenever oneimage generation process is carried out. Alternatively, a plurality ofdisplay lists (1)–(N) and a plurality of scene objects (1)–(N) may begenerated in advance and stored.

Next, the drawing application processor 11 instructs the graphicslibrary 12 to generate the 3D image by combining the display list (1)and the scene object (1) (Step S305-1). In response to this instruction,the graphics library 12 supplies the display list (1) (Step S306-1) tothe drawing device 13, and further supplies the scene object (1) to thedrawing device 13 (Step S307-1). After that, the graphics library 12instructs the drawing device 13 to execute the display list (StepS308-1).

In response to this instruction, the drawing device 13 executes thedisplay list on the basis of the coordinate transformation parameters ofthe scene object, and generates the image (Step S309-1). When the imagegenerating process on the display list (1) is ended, the drawing device13 reports the completion of the image generating process on the displaylist (1) to the graphics library 12 and the drawing applicationprocessor 11 (Step S310-1).

Next, the similar processes are repeatedly carried out on the displaylist (i) and the coordinate transformation information (i) (i=1, 2, 3, .. . ). Finally, the drawing application processor 11 instructs thegraphics library 12 to generate the 3D image by combining the displaylist (N) and the scene object (N) (Step S 305-N). In response to thisinstruction, the graphics library 12 supplies the display list (N) tothe drawing device 13 (Step 306-N), and further supplied the sceneobject (N) to the drawing device 13 (Step S307-N). After that, thegraphics library 12 instructs the drawing device to execute the imagegenerating process (Step S308-N). In response to this instruction, thedrawing device 13 executes the display list on the basis of thecoordinate transformation parameters of the scene object, and generatesthe image (Step S309-N). When the image generating process on thedisplay list (N) is ended, the drawing device 13 reports the completionof the image generating process on the display list (N) to the graphicslibrary 12 and the drawing application processor 11 (Step S310-N).

Then, the process for ending the image generating process is carriedout. Moreover, at this time, the drawing device supplies the generatedimage to the display unit 17 (Step S311). Thus, the image is displayed.

When the drawing application processor 11 receives the report of thecompletion of the image generating process, the drawing applicationprocessor 11 determines whether or not the next image generating processis carried out (Step S312). If the next image generating process iscarried out, the above-mentioned processes are carried out from StepS301 again. On the other hand, if the next image generating process isnot carried out, the drawing application processor 11 determines whetherto continue the displaying of the current image (Step S313) or erase theimage, according to the various conditions.

FIG. 7 is an example of the displaying of the 3D images generated asmentioned above. FIG. 7 shows a view on the basis of the view point of adriver when a car is driving on a road in a town. In FIG. 7, a lightsource 21, a view point 22, a field of view 23 and the like relate tothe coordinate transformation information represented by the identifierset in the scene object. Buildings 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, . . . and a road 25and the like correspond to the drawing object information. For example,the light source 21 is the sun in the daytime, and it is a streetlightin the night. Their positions and the illumination directions are theparameters. Also, is the view point is set on the basis of the viewpoint of a driver, the driver can be watched at the feeling similar tothat of the view of the environment in which the car is driving. Thefield of view 23 defines a predetermined image range. This range is setso as to be suitable for the driver.

Also, the buildings 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, . . . and the road 25 and the likecorrespond to the drawing object information. The display list inrelation to them is generated in the format that can be directlyexecuted by the drawing device. The drawing object information can beused from those supplied through a map information database of thenavigation system and the like. Also, the format as the drawing objectinformation is represented in the single coordinate system that does notcontain the coordinate transformation information.

In FIG. 7, in accordance with the information of the scene object, thelight source 21, namely, the sun is forwardly located, and therefore,the side of the buildings 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, . . . that faces the driveris darkly shaded. Also, the view point 22 is located over the road 25.Then, the coordinate transformation is done such that the drawingobjects, such as the buildings 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, . . . and the road 25and the like which are within the range set by the field of view 23, areconverged to this view point 22, by using the method based on theperspective.

As mentioned above, since the drawing object information and thecoordinate transformation information are treated while separated fromeach other, the image generating process can be done by carrying out thecoordinate transformation of the image at a high speed. By changing thecoordinate transformation information, the generating an image at adifferent coordinate can be easily done for the same drawing object.Also, the separation between the drawing object information and thecoordinate transformation information enables the drawing device to beselected or replaced.

(Second Embodiment)

The above-mentioned image generating apparatus will be described belowby exemplifying the case when this apparatus is applied to a navigationsystem for a mobile body. The various functions of the navigation systemare closely related to the image generating apparatus. Therefore, theimage generating apparatus are installed in the navigation systemintegrally. This point is described in detail. Incidentally, theconfiguration and the operations of the image generating apparatusitself are similar to those as mentioned above. Then, the re-explanationis omitted. The above-mentioned explanation is suitably seen asnecessary.

At first, the navigation system of this embodiment is schematicallydescribed with reference to FIG. 8.

The navigation system is provided with a self-contained positioningapparatus 30, a GPS receiver 38, a system controller 40, an input/output(I/O) interface circuit 41, a CD-ROM drive 51, a DVD-ROM drive 52, ahard disk device (HDD) 56, a wireless communication device 58, a displayunit 60, an audio output unit 70, an input device 80 and an externalinterface (I/F) device (not shown). The respective devices are connectedto a bus line 50 for a control data transfer and a process datatransfer.

The self-contained positioning apparatus 30 is constructed to include anacceleration sensor 31, an angular velocity sensor 32, and a velocitysensor 33. The acceleration sensor 31, which is constructed by apiezoelectric element, for example, detects an acceleration of a vehicleand outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 32, which isconstructed by a vibration gyro, for example, detects an angularvelocity of a vehicle when the vehicle changes its moving direction andoutputs angular velocity data and relative azimuth data. The velocitysensor 33 detects a rotation of a vehicle shaft, mechanically,magnetically or optically, and outputs a signal of a pulse numbercorresponding to a car speed at every rotation for a predetermined anglearound the vehicle shaft.

The GPS receiver 38 has the known configuration in which it has a planepolarization non-directional reception antenna, a high frequencyreception processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) or a microprocessor unit (MPU), a V-RAM, a memory and the like. The GPS receiver38 receives the electric waves from at least three GPS satellites placedinto orbit around the earth, and carries out a spectral back-diffusion,a distance measurement, a Doppler measurement, an orbit data process,and carries out a position calculation and a movement speed azimuthcalculation, and continuously outputs an absolute position informationof a reception point (a car driving point) from the I/O circuit 41 tothe bus line 50, and the system controller 40 captures it, and carriesout a screen display on a map road.

The system controller 40 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit)42, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 43 that is a non-volatile solid memorydevice, and a working RAM 44, and it sends and receives a data to andfrom the respective units connected to the bus line 50. The processcontrol for sending and receiving this data is executed by a bootprogram and a control program stored in the ROM 43. In particular, theRAM 44 transiently stores the setting information to change a mapdisplay (change to an entire or district map display) through a useroperation from the input device 80 and the like.

The CD-ROM drive 51 and the DVD-ROM drive 52 read out, from a CD-ROM 53and a DVD-ROM 54, the map database information (for example, the variousroad data such as the number of lanes, a road width and the like in themap information (drawings) respectively stored therein, and output them.

The hard disk device 56 can store the map (image) data read by theCD-ROM drive 51 or the DVD-ROM drive 52 and then read out it at any timeafter it is stored. The hard disk device 56 can further store a voicedata and an image data read from the CD-ROM drive 51 or the DVD-ROMdrive 52. Consequently, for example, it is possible to read out the mapdata on the CD-ROM 53 and the DVD-ROM 54, and carry out the navigationoperation, and meanwhile read out the voice data and the image datastored in the hard disk device 56 and then carry out a voice output andan image output. Or, it is possible to read out the voice data and theimage data on the CD-ROM 53 and the DVD-ROM 54, and carry out the voiceoutput and the image output, and meanwhile read out the map data storedin the hard disk device 56 and then carry out the navigation operation.

The display unit 60 displays the various process data on the screenunder the control of the system controller 40. The display unit 60controls the respective portions of the display unit 60 in accordancewith the control data transferred from the CPU 42 through the bus line50. Also, it transiently stores an image information that can beinstantly displayed by a buffer memory 62 using V-RAM. Moreover, adisplay controller 63 carries out a display control, and displays animage data outputted from a graphic controller 61 on a display 64. Thisdisplay 64 is placed near a front panel in the car.

In the audio output unit 70, a D/A converter 71 converts the voicesignal transferred through the bus line 50 under the control of thesystem controller 40, into a digital signal. At the same time, a voiceanalog signal outputted from the D/A converter 71 is variably amplifiedby a variable amplifier (AMP) 72, outputted to a speaker 73, andoutputted as a voice from it.

The input device 80 is composed of keys, switches, buttons, a remotecontroller, a voice input unit and the like to enter the variouscommands and the data. The input device 80 is placed around the display64 and a front panel of a main body of the car electronic systeminstalled in the car.

Here, in the navigation system, it is required to suitably display theimage coincident with a drive route. That is, the image watched from thedriver's view point on the road on which the driver is currently drivingis desired to be displayed in the 3D image. Also, from the viewpoint ofsafety, it is useful to display, in the 3D image, the image when the carturns at a forward crossing and the view ahead of an unclear location,and also report its fact to the driver. Moreover, various messages needto be superimposed on the image and displayed. Such requirements of thenavigation system are also the requirements of the image generatingapparatus installed in the navigation system, and the image generatingapparatus can satisfy these requirements, as mentioned above.

Thus, by installing the above-mentioned image generating apparatus inthe navigation system and designating the navigation system so as tocooperate the image generating apparatus with the various devices of thenavigation system, the extremely effective navigation system can beattained.

The cooperating operation of the image generating apparatus and thevarious devices of the navigation system will be described below.

As mentioned above, in the image generating apparatus, the drawingapplication processor 11 separately generates the coordinatetransformation information of the view point, the field of view, thelight source and the like and the drawing object information of theroad, the building and the like. Then, the graphics library 12separately stores and manages these two kinds of information. Then, thedrawing device 13 actually generates the images by using theseinformation.

As the drawing object information, the map information containinginformation of a road and a building is used. The map information isobtained from the map database of the navigation system. Moreconcretely, the map information is stored in the CD-ROM 53 and theDVD-ROM 54 and read out through the CD-ROM drive 51 and the DVD-ROMdrive 52. Also, the map information can be obtained through thecommunicating unit 58 from a predetermined site and stored in the harddisk device 56 to thereby use it. Also, after the map information of thedrive route read out through the CD-ROM drive 51 or the DVD-ROM drive 52is stored, it can be read out at any time. This work may be carried outwhen a drive plan is prepared.

The map information is divided into many regions. The divided mapinformation included in the respective regions are represented by thevarious coordinate systems. Namely, in respective regions, thecoordinate systems are not the same. The display list generating routine112 of the drawing application processor 11 in the image generatingapparatus converts the map information into drawing object informationof a single coordinate system, which does not depend on the position ofa view point and a field of view, and generates a display list on thebasis of the drawing object information. Then, the drawing applicationprocessor 11 instructs the graphics library 12. In response to thisinstruction, the display list arranging device 122 of the graphicslibrary 12 arranges or reconstructs the display list so as to besuitable for the drawing device 13. Then, the display list arrangingdevice 122 stores and manages the arranged or reconstructed displaylist.

On the other hand, information of the view point, the field of view, thelight source and the like which are used as the sources of thecoordinate transformation information can be obtained in the followingmanner. Namely, in order to determine the view point, the field of view,the light source and the like, at first, it is necessary to know acurrent position of the car during the driving. This current position ismeasured by the GPS receiver 38 or the self-contained positioningapparatus 30 of the navigation system. Then, the location on the mapinformation corresponding to the measured current position is determinedby comparing the map information with the measured current position.Thus, the traveling direction of the car and the proper view point andfield of view are determined. Incidentally, the view point and the fieldof view may be determined at a predetermined position or range.Moreover, these point and field may be set manually.

If the traveling direction of the car and the current time are known,the direction of the sun can be determined by considering the seasonalfactor. On the basis of this, the location of the light source isdetermined. Also, if a view of an arrival location after a predeterminedtime is desired to be watched, the direction of the sun can bedetermined by similarly setting the position and the arrival time. Thus,it is possible to watch the image in which the effect of the position ofthe light source at the arrival time is reflected.

Also, the change in the shade and shadow of a view from a sunrise to asundown can be displayed by applying the coordinate transformationinformation concerning the light source to the drawing objectinformation while changing the coordinate transformation informationaccording to the momentarily changing time. Moreover, the change of thelocation or the form of the 3D image can be sequentially displayed bysequentially changing the coordinate transformation information of theview point, the field of view or the like. In particular, if the changeof 3D image corresponding to the change of the view when the car iscontinuously driving on the same road is displayed, the coordinatetransformation information is changed in association with the drivingwhile the drawing object information is fixed. Thus, the continuouschange of the 3D image can be displayed efficiently.

As mentioned above, the function of the navigation system can be used todetermine the scene object serving as the coordinate transformationinformation, and the map information can be used to determine thedrawing object information. Thus, the 3D image can be generated on thebasis of the coordinate transformation information and the drawingobject information independently of each other. The image is introducedinto the display unit 60 of the navigation system, and accumulated inthe buffer memory 62 using the V-RAM and the like by the graphiccontroller 61, and read out from it, and then displayed on the display64 through the display controller 63.

As mentioned above, the image generating apparatus of the presentinvention has been described by exemplifying the case of the applicationto the navigation system. However, it is not limited to this case.Preferably, it may be used for the image generation in a personalcomputer, a work station, a mobile, a portable telephone and the like,the image generation in a television game, an arcade game, a portablegame and the like, and the image generation in a handling simulationapparatus or a training apparatus for various mobile bodies such as acar, a motorcycle, an airplane, a helicopter, a rocket, a ship and thelike.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-295140filed on Sep. 26, 2001 including the specification, claims, drawings andsummary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. An image generating apparatus for drawing a three-dimensional imagecomprising: a drawing object information generating device forgenerating drawing object information, which is information for drawingobjects as the three-dimensional image, in a single coordinate system; acoordinate transformation information generating device for generatingcoordinate transformation information, which is information for defininga view point, a field of view, or both of the view point and the fieldof view concerning the three-dimensional image, separately andindependently from the drawing object information; a drawing objectinformation storing device for storing the drawing object information,separately and independently from the coordinate transformationinformation; a coordinate transformation information storing device forstoring the coordinate transformation information, separately andindependently from the drawing object information; and a drawing devicefor generating the three-dimensional image by using the drawing objectinformation that is directly input from said drawing object informationstoring device to said drawing device and the coordinate transformationinformation that is directly input from said coordinate transformationinformation storing device to said drawing device and for supplying thethree-dimensional image to a display device, wherein the drawing objectinformation and the coordinate transformation information are separatelyand independently generated, stored and managed before the generation ofthe three-dimensional image by said drawing device.
 2. An imagegenerating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawing objectinformation storing device stores a plurality of units of the drawingobject information generated by the drawing object informationgenerating device, the coordinate transformation information storingdevice stores a plurality of units of the coordinate transformationinformation generated by the coordinate transformation informationgenerating device, and the drawing device generates thethree-dimensional image with an arbitrary combination of one or morethan one of the plurality of units of the drawing object information andone or more than one of the plurality of units of the coordinatetransformation information.
 3. An image generating apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the drawing object information generating devicecomprises a list generating device for generating a list of the drawingobject information.
 4. An image generating apparatus according to claim1, wherein the image generating apparatus includes a drawing applicationprocessor and a graphics library, the graphics library comprises: thedrawing object information storing device; the coordinate transformationinformation storing device; and a controlling device for controlling thedrawing device, and the drawing application processor comprises: thedrawing object information generating device; the coordinatetransformation information generating device; and an instructing devicefor instructing the controlling device to execute the generation of thethree-dimensional image.
 5. An image generating apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the image generating apparatus comprises a firstportion and a second portion which are detachable from each other, thedrawing application device is put on the first portion, and the graphicslibrary and the drawing device are put on the second portion.
 6. Animage generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: amap information supplying device for supplying map information, whichcontains a source of the drawing object information, to the drawingobject information generating device.
 7. An image generating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the drawing device generates thethree-dimensional image with perspective.
 8. An image generatingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate transformationinformation includes information for defining a light source.
 9. Animage generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the informationfor defining the view point is set on the basis of a view point of amovable body operator.
 10. An image generating apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the coordinate transformation information defines thefield of view on the basis of a field of view of a movable bodyoperator.
 11. An image generating apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the view point on the three-dimensional image is set so as to belocated at a central portion of a display area of a display device. 12.An image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawingdevice generates a plurality of partial frame images on the basis of thestored drawing object information, and superimposes the plurality ofpartial frame images.
 13. An image generating apparatus according toclaim 12 further comprising a frame buffer for storing the plurality ofpartial frame images.
 14. An image generating apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the coordinate transformation information generatingdevice generates a plurality of units of the coordinate transformationinformation, in which the view point, the field of view, or both of theview point and the field of view is/are different from each other, withrespect to one unit of the drawing object information, and the imageprocessing device generates the three-dimensional image which changeswith time by applying the plurality of units of the coordinatetransformation information to the one unit of the drawing objectinformation.
 15. An image generating apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a process of generating the drawing object information in thedrawing object information generating device, a process of generatingthe coordinate transformation information in the coordinatetransformation information generating device, a process of storing thedrawing object information in the drawing object information storingdevice and a process of storing the coordinate transformationinformation in the coordinate transformation information storing deviceare carried out with multitasking.
 16. An image generating apparatusaccording to claim 1 further comprising: the display device fordisplaying the images generated by the drawing device.
 17. A programstorage device readable by a computer for tangibly embodying a programof instructions executable by the computer to perform an imagegenerating method of drawing a three-dimensional image, the imagegenerating method comprising: a drawing object information generatingprocess of generating drawing object information, which is informationfor drawing objects as the three-dimensional image, in a singlecoordinate system; a coordinate transformation information generatingprocess of generating coordinate transformation information, which isinformation for defining a view point, a field of view, or both of theview point and the field of view concerning the three-dimensional image,separately and independently from the drawing object information; adrawing object information storing process of storing the drawing objectinformation, separately and independently from the coordinatetransformation information; a coordinate transformation informationstoring process of storing the coordinate transformation information,separately and independently from the drawing object information; and adrawing process for generating the three-dimensional image by using thedrawing object information that is directly input from a drawing objectinformation storing device that stores the drawing object informationand the coordinate transformation information that is directly inputfrom a coordinate transformation information storing device that storesthe coordinate transformation information, and for supplying thethree-dimensional image to a display device, wherein the drawing objectinformation and the coordinate transformation information are separatelyand independently generated, stored and managed before the generation ofthe three-dimensional image by said drawing process.
 18. An imagegenerating method of drawing a three-dimensional image comprising: adrawing object information generating process of generating drawingobject information, which is information for drawing objects as thethree-dimensional image, in a single coordinate system; a coordinatetransformation information generating process of generating coordinatetransformation information, which is information for defining a viewpoint, a field of view, or both of the view point and the field of viewconcerning the three-dimensional image, separately and independentlyfrom the drawing object information; a drawing object informationstoring process of storing the drawing object information, separatelyand independently from the coordinate transformation information; acoordinate transformation information storing process of storing thecoordinate transformation information, separately and independently fromthe drawing object information; and a drawing process for generating thethree-dimensional image by using the drawing object information that isdirectly input from a drawing object information storing device thatstores the drawing object information and the coordinate transformationinformation that is directly input from a coordinate transformationinformation storing device that stores the coordinate transformationinformation, and for supplying the three-dimensional image to a displaydevice, wherein the drawing object information and the coordinatetransformation information are separately and independently generated,stored and managed before the generation of the three-dimensional imageby said drawing process.
 19. An image generating method according toclaim 18, wherein the drawing object information generating processcomprises a list generating process of generating a list of the drawingobject information.